Rail-joint.



Nm 838,475. PATBNTBD DBG. 11, 190s.- j

J. L. sToFPER. RAIL JOINT.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 23. 1905.

UNITED sTAT E s PATENT oFFroE.

JACOB L. STOFFER, OF HOMEWORTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LAIVRENOE E. YAGGI, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23,1905. Serial No. 261.810.

- useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railjoints, more particularly to the means by which the ishplates are secured in applied position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and highly-useful means of this character which may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, which may be easily applied and removed, and which will unite the rail ends against accidental displacement.

The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, claimed, and illus-V trated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred form of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail-joint, illustrating the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one form of locking member or plate. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the wedge member. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a modified form of locking member or plate. Fig. 7 is a similar view of a still further modiiied form of said plate.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 1 1 designate rail-sections of the usual form and construction adapted to be united by :fish-plates 2 2, which are also of the usual form and construction. The webs 3 of the rails 1 1 and fish-plates 2 2 are provided with alining openings 4, through which pass the fastening means to secure the iishplates 2 2 in applied position. Bolts 5, provided with enlarged heads 6 and slots 7, are inserted in the openings 4 to project their slotted ends beyond the outer surface of one of the ish-plates 2. Each'of these bolts 5 is secured in position by means of a locking member or plate 8 and a wedge member 9. The wedge member 9 is provided with one straight edgelO and an inclined edge 11. The farthest portion of the inclined edge is provided with a series of corrugations or teeth 12. The locking member or plate 8 comprises a body portion provided with an opening 13, adapted to receive the projecting end of a bolt, and with a projecting tang 14, having its end turned upwardly to engage one of the series of corrugations or teeth 12 to retain the wedge in applied position. The body portion of the plate 8 is provided with a rearward extension 15, having a longitudinal groove 16, which is provided for the reception of la portion of the inclined edge 11 of the wedge 9, whereby the plate S and wedge 9 are prevented from having any relative movement, thus insuring the retention of the upturned edge of the tang 14 in engagement with one of the series of corrugations or teeth 12.

The locking member or plate 8a, as illustrated in Fig. 4 in the drawings, is what may be termed a double member or plate, in that it is adapted to engage two or more bolts, and it consists of an elongated plate 17, having an inclined face, a forwardly-projecting tang 18, and two enlarged portions 19, these portions 19 being provided with opening 20, through which project the ends of bolts. In view of the fact that this locking member or plate engages two or more bolts it is unnecessary to provide the same with a recess similar to the recess 16, as the same is prevented from having any turning movement by its engagement with two or more bolts.

The locking member or plate 8b, as disclosed in Fig. 7, is similar to that disclosed in Fig. 6, except in design, and therefore it is thought that the description of the plate as illustrated in Fig. 6 applies to the plate illustrated in Fig. 7.

The application of the plate and member 9 to a bolt may be described in the following manner: The locking member or plate is first applied to the bolt and then the wedge 9 is inserted in the slot 7, so as to have its inclined edge 11 in contact with the plate 8. The wedge is moved longitudinally of the plate until all slack is taken up in the bolt. As the upwardly-projecting portion of the tang 14 will engage successively each of the series of corrugations or teeth 12, it will be apparent that the wedge member will be held in its ICO Having thus described the invention, What I claim is- In a device ofthe class set lforth, a bolt pro-- vided With a slot, a locking member mounted upon said bolt and provided With a tang and a recess, and awedge member positioned in said slot and recess and provided With a tooth to be engaged by said tang.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JACOB L. STOFFER.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. SoMERs, DAVID STOEFER. 

